New brewery coming to Kings Mountain

A new industry is planning to move into Kings Mountain and will be brewing up more than beverages.

Rebecca Clark

A new industry is planning to move into Kings Mountain and will be brewing up more than beverages.

Stout Brewing Company LLC plans to bring 61 jobs and $6 million worth of investments to the county.

County commissioners approved an incentive agreement Tuesday night that will grant taxes back to the company each year.

According to the seven-year grant term agreement, the county will essentially reimburse 65 percent of the taxes paid by the company each year.

In return, the company plans to add jobs and invest in the building and the installation of machinery and equipment.

The company plans to renovate an existing building at 518 North Sims St.

With an August unemployment rate of 10.7 percent, according to the N.C. Division of Employment Security, the announcement is welcome news.

"While this is truly another great success for Cleveland County, the real winners are the citizens who now have job opportunities as a result of Stout Brewing Company locating here," said Johnny Hutchins, chairman of the board of commissioners.

First brewery in the county

Kristin Fletcher, executive vice president of the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership, said one of the positives of the project is the renovation and re-use of an existing building.

"It's even better when companies want to come in and renovate and re-use an existing product," Fletcher said.

She called the project "entrepreneurial" in scope and said it is well-funded and has good backing.

"The ownership of the company has very good experience in brewery and beverage industry," Fletcher said.

She said the brewery's plans to locate in the county also represent industry diversity, the key to a sustainable economy.

"This is our first brewery we have ever recruited to Cleveland County," she said. "Breweries are popping up all over Western North Carolina and making a significant impact with the new jobs and investment that they add to local communities, so we're just excited that Stout Brewing Company chose Cleveland County to begin production."

Growing list of industrial expansion

Kings Mountain Mayor Rick Murphrey pledged the support of the city and said Kings Mountain officials will work with the company to expedite building permits and inspections.

According to Fletcher, the city of Kings Mountain has not offered the company any incentives at this time.

"Stout appreciates the assistance of Cleveland County and Kings Mountain and we are looking forward to a bright future working together," said Stout company executive Cody Sommer.

Stout Brewing Company joins a growing list of new or expanding industries in Cleveland County.

According to the Cleveland County Economic Development Partnership, the county has secured more than $900 million in new capital investment and created more than 800 new jobs this year.